Artist Bio

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Monique Clift is an artist with a deep connection to nature and craft. She completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Ceramic Design) from Monash University (1988-1991), launching her professional career as a ceramic designer for a Melbourne ceramics manufacturer. While raising her young family, she returned to study and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Secondary Education at Monash University in 2005.

 

Growing up in a bushland setting, a child of creative parents, Monique’s work explores themes of childhood memories, craft, and personal symbolism. Inspired by natural forms and environments that nurture, she often gathers inspiration from the family farm and her own garden, incorporating floral and botanical elements into her work. Monique’s background in ceramics continues to influence her creative practice, driving her recent explorations in still life. Experimenting with diverse media including acrylic, oil paint, gold leaf, oil and wax pastel in her two-dimensional pieces, the vessel remains a recurring motif.

 

By day, Monique is a dedicated educator, teaching full-time at a local secondary college in Bunurong (Melbourne’s Southeast). With experience spanning visual art, technology, and middle years literacy, she brings a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her teaching. By night and in stolen moments, she channels her passion into her artistic pursuits, maintaining a not always harmonious balance between her roles as teacher and artist, admitting it can often feel like a juggling act. Recently, her teaching has sparked new ideas, including vase forms inspired by her students and their unique personalities. She’s also exploring how text might weave into her future works.